Page 48 of Forbidden Billionaires: Vol. 5
It wasn’t a denial. “Screw you, Matt.” I pulled my sweater back down.
“I didn’t sleep with the whole cheerleading team.”
“Just most of them then?” I thought about Isabella and I felt like I was going to be sick.
“I can’t undo my past. But I told you I’d wait for you now. And I have. I’m not the one letting someone else touch…”
“We broke up!”
“I never agreed to that.”
“You don’t have to agree with it. It still happened. It’s done.”
He just stared at me. “I’m not done with you.”
That’s not how this works!“Let me make this easier for you to comprehend, because clearly you’re struggling. I hate you.” Iwasn’t sure I really meant it, but I certainly meant it right then. I freaking hated him for barging in here uninvited. For making me feel unwanted when he’d already been with everyone else. For not listening to me.
He had the audacity to smile. “Tough luck. Because I love you.”
I opened my mouth and then closed it again. What the hell was I supposed to say to that?
He took a step toward me and I didn’t retreat. His words were swirling around in my head and I didn’t know how to process them.
“You really want your first time to be like this?” he said. “With you mad at me?” He put his hand on the side of my face.
Obviously, or I wouldn’t have tried to unbutton your pants.I swallowed down the words. I didn’t want him to remove his hand.
“Do you know how badly I want you all the time? How many times I pictured you saying you were ready for more? But not like this. Not when all you need is for me to be here for you. Not today.” He swiped his thumbs under my eyes to remove the tears I didn’t even realize I shed.
I knew that he thought he loved me. And I could forgive him for a lot of things. I could love him in spite of his flaws. But not this. “If you loved me, you would have stood up for me.”
“We’ve already talked about all of this. Isabella…”
“I know. You did something and Isabella is holding it against you. But you don’t even trust me enough to tell me what it is. Or what she’s threatening.” I removed his hands from my face. “All you said is that it would hurt James, but don’t you see that I’m hurting? All I’ve been doing for the past few months is hurting. Andyouhurt me, Matt.”
“I’m sorry. But that’s why I’m here. Because I know you’re hurting. I know you need me.”
“If you’re that sorry, you can fix it. Just tell me the truth.”
He pressed his lips together.
His silence was the problem. Didn’t he see that? “Get out.” Maybe I was high, but I was damn sure about this.
“Brooklyn…”
“Get the hell out!”
“You don’t understand. James…”
“He’s one of your best friends. I know. I get that. What I don’t get is why I don’t matter. You make me feel like I’m nothing.”
“Of course you matter. I’m standing here telling you I love you. You mean everything to me.”
“It’s not enough. Love isn’t ignoring someone when they get milk thrown on them during lunch. Love isn’t not acknowledging me in public…”
“You know I can’t. You know what will happen if Isabella tells James...”
“That’s the thing, Matt. I don’t. What will happen to James if you come clean? What secret do you have that will hurt him? What could possibly be worse than this?”
